Music and copyright

[Daishichimaru]

Everybody knows that music can help to make the movie, and that Autodesk will disqualify teams that violate copyrights. The general solution to this issue is to write the band and ask for written permission and ship that along with the entry. I've found a perfect song to go with mine, but ran into a little problem. The artist is both Japanese and has been dead for several years. This beoing a rather obvious complication to the permission granting process, does anybody know of an easy way to find out where copyright privelages are held for bands that aren't around anymore?

[Zeinin]

sweet
we are prolly gonna use some hamasaki ayumi in ours... by any chance is the artist Hide? anyway, if its japanese, just credit it to Son May. they are a chinese company in the buisness of pirating, and they put out pretty much any japanese cd for a lower price. if you credit the song to thier label, its all good, hehe. they cant fight it cause they dont really have the rights to it, if it comes down to it.

actually, we might get a korg and make our own track

[Madison]

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't even play one on TV.

In most instances, a copyright is valid for about 75 years. As such, most all classical pieces, and other songs (like Happy Birthday) are in the public domain, and can be used without penalty.

Otherwise, you'd have to ask permission, like you mentioned. If the artist is dead, the copyright probably reverts to their recording company, or family. I'm not quite sure which it might be in this case.

You might want to try writing both, or just finding a classical piece of music that fits your animation well.

[Daishichimaru]

Yeah, hide it is. I'm eyeing DICE for the main part at the moment. Zeinin, if you use the Hex Hector Main mix of Endless Sorrow in yours I will personally beat you over the head with my shinai at Katsu.

[Dindau]

Our animation is being done by very finely rendered mimes!

So we dont use sound or music.

[Robby O]

Okay, you guys asked. But be warned:
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I DO NOT CONDONE USING COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS IN ANY WAY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER, AND SO IT IS NOT MY FAULT IF YOU DO SO AND ARE DISQUALIFIED. I AM MERELY SHARING MY EXPERIENCES BELOW, AND MY THOUGHTS, HOWEVER THEY ARE WRONG FROM TIME TO TIME.
==========================================

So, after that wonderful disclaimer, here's my opinion - As long as you guys sign that form that says "Yes, we have permission" it now becomes YOUR responsibility. Basically, the artist or owner of the song will take it out on your team and not on Autodesk. That is the main reason for the copyright release form. Now if you take a look at maybe 20% or more of the animations, they have copyrighted music in them. Go ahead and email the teams and ask them if they had permission from the owner of the copyright.

My animation in 2000 used music from a Volkswagen commercial, and was still scored and even noted to be the most detailed robot ever seen in an animation to that year (Though I think Zenin might outdo me this year B^P). I honestly dont know if it was copyrighted by Volkswagen, but I would imagine it was. Another situation was team for 108's 97 video for Chariman's, they wanted to use the Mission Impossible theme and were denied by the company. So 108 could not use it. The winner of that year's animation? Used the Mission Impossible theme.

So am I encouraging you to use copyrighted music without permission? No. I am merely pointing out what that form is for and what has happened in the past. What you do is under the discretion of your team, and if you sign that form, as far as Autodesk is concerned, you have permission.

Then again, I could be wrong as I have yet to read the new copyright form in detail. It's 1:10 am so I'll take care of that tomorrow and respond. Oh well. There are sources for royaltee free music which can be costly, but is free to use. And I'm more than sure you have local bands you can ask to create custom music for you. The listings for royaltee free music are below.

Good luck all, and happy animating to the music!

-Robby O
FIRSTanimators Moderator
oshortwan@hotmail.com

ROYALTY(SP?, maybe ROYALTEE???) FREE MUSIC

http://www.freelibrarymusic.com/
http://www.iamusic.com/

[Jim McGeehin]

But if you are caught, they're be hell to pay.

Thanks for spoiling it Dindau! It was going to be a surprise. You see, when the paper has the red "Do Not Post on Chief Delphi," you generally follow the red stamp.

[Patrick Wang]

Expand the venture of animation to include some talented musicians in your team

[Daishichimaru]

Ripped right out of the manual: "Our judges watch and listen closely for any possible copyright infringements." Now, as to what that means is anybody's guess...

[AustinPowers]

As stated," a word of caution!!"

The rules say no copyrighted matrial without permission!

I am sure if it even seems like a beat or piece from and song movie or other media your entire animation will be disqualified contrary to what is said above! I am sure that the animation was scored, but it did not win. The question then becomes why? could it be due to a copyright violation suspected?

Zero tolerance!

Be creative not a copy cat! There is plenty of software to create a background beat!


Have a nice day!

[Jeremy L]

short of using the happy birthday song, how long would it take (on average) to know if you have permission to use a song in the animation? not sending to japan/china either, within the U.S.